Air-distributer for internal-combustion engines.



c. w. wuss. AIR DISTRIBUTER FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTEON ENGINES! APPLICA TION FILED JUNE 29, I916- Pate'nted Mar. 27,1917.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l- [fave/250x" WW 6% www CARL w. wEIss, or BROOKLYN, new YORK.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar, 27, 19175 Application filed June 29, 1916. Serial No. 106,580.

To. all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CARL lV. WnI.ss, a citizen of the United States, residing in the borough of Brooklyn of the city of New York, in the State of New York, have inmanipulation and certain in action for the purpose of introducing air into the appropriate cylinder for the starting or reversing 1 of an internal combustion engine. As Wlll be understood, it is necessary that a device of the character described shall permit the air to be led to the proper cylinder upon manual manipulation for the starting or re versing operation and shall insure the subsequent timely admission of airto each of the remaining cylinders in properphase relation to the cycle of movements of the pistons in the respective cylinders, after such initial manual setting. In accordance with the invention the distributer embodies a valve which shallbe operable manually for, admitting air into the proper cylinder for starting or reversing and a rotary distributing sleeve operatively connected to the crank shaft of the motor. These two controlling elements for the admission of air, one for manual operation and the other for mechanical operation by the motor, are both simple in construction and so related to one another and to. the supporting housing as to be readily accessible for inspection and repair, invariable in operation and in the ase of the hand valve, easy of man pulation.

These and othertadvantages of; the improved construction will be described in greater detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of a four-cylinder internal combustion engine provided with thev improved distributer, parts of the wall of the crank case being broken away to illustrate the relative positions of the cranlcarms.

Fig. 2 a detail view, on a somewhat larger scale. taken in. horizontal section.

through the distributer along the plane in dicated by the line 2-2 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 3 is a view in vertical. section through the improved distributer taken on the plane indicated by the line 33 of Fig. 2 and looking in the direction of the arrows.

The improved distributer a has been shown as applied to a four-cylinder internal combustion marine engine b in Which the cylinders have been numbered 1, 2, 3, 4, for the sake of convenience, but it will be evident as the description proceeds that the usefulness of this distributer is in noWise dependent upon the number of cylinders of the motor to which it is applied nor to the character of the motor. For the purposes of this description, it will make for clarity to number the ports in the elements of the distributer to correspond to the cylinders which such ports control and to number the air conduits c with corresponding numerals so that the course of the. air from the interior of the distributer a to each one of the cylinders may be readily traced from the drawings. The distributer proper, in the illustrated embodiment, includes an outer cylindrical casing A which may be supported conveniently on the engine, as by a suitable bracket A and this casing A has formed in its inner wall cored segmental chambers A with which communicate respectively the air pipes a, numbered 1, 2, 8, 1:, according to the cylinder with which each communicates. The segmental chambers A may be of any approved form and size, preferably extending about the inneriwall of the casing A through an angle of about 180 and are disposed directly above one another so that the pipes c are alined. The cylindrical casing A is open-ended to receive a cylindrical sleeve (Z which extends downward into the casingA and is supported in fixed position with relation to the casing by means of an annular flange cl through which may pass fastening screws (Z The fixed sleeve (1 has formed in its wall two sets of ports 03", d, setat an angle of 90 apart, respectively, and in each of these sets there is a port opposite each of the segmental chambers A Thedepending sleeve (lv is shouldered, as at (l"', to provide an annular space between the inner wall of the casing A and the outer wall of the sleeve, in which space is mounted an open-ended tubular distributing sleeve 0 which encircles the depending sleeve (Z and lies in snug engagement'n'ith said sleeve and with the inner wall of the casing A. The edge of this distributing sleeve 6 bears against the shoulder (Z and makes snug engagement therewith while the closed end of the sleeve is grooved,

tubular valve h, the stem hv of which extends upward through the cap formed by the end wall of the sleeve 01 and has secured thereto an operating handle h by means of which the valve may be operated for the purpose of starting, reversing or stopping the motor in a manner which will be described. The valve b has formed therein four ports 71. which are alined with relation to one another and are disposed opposite the four segmental chambers A respectively. This valve fits snugly Within the depending sleeve (Z and is so set with relation thereto that the ports 7L therein normally rest mideither of these sets of ports by operation in one direction or the other under the influence of the hand lever k for the purpose of starting or reversing the engine in the mannerto be pointed out in connection with the operation of the distributer.

Adjacent the lower end of the frame A is formed an annular cored chamber A with which communicates theunain supply pipe 1' for compressed .air, theair being admitted from this chamber A into the interior of the tubular valve it through a series of openings 6 formed in the lower end of the distributing sleeve 6 and in line with said chamber. During normal operation of the motor, by its usual. fuel, the hand lever b will be positioned mid-way between suitable bosses (i formed on the outer face of the flange d for the purpose of limiting the oscillating movement of the handle in one direction or the other. With the handle 71. in this median position the valvelz. will be placed in the position shown in Fig. 2 in which the ports h thereof are blanked by the wall of tributer to any of the cylinders.

the sleeve -(Z lying between the sets of ports (Z 03. At this time, it is evident that no air can pass from the interior of the dis- If it is 3 desired to start theengine by compressed air, assuming it to be at rest, the hand lever It may be manipulated to bring the ports In the depending sleeve al is disposed a the sets in the depending sleeve d, whereupon air will be admitted from the interior of the valve to that segmental chamber A which has a port 9 of the distributing sleeve 0 in line with one of the ports k and the registering port d in the fixed sleeve. As shown in Fig. 2, the port 57 in the distributing sleeve 6 indicated by the numeral 3, laps over one of the ports 01 in the fixed sleeve d, so that if the hand valve it were oscillated to bring one of the ports k into line with said port d and the distributer port 7 (numbered 3) air would be admitted from the interior of the valve 72. to that air pipe 0 which is numbered 3 in Fig. 1 and is in line with the chamber A controlled by the port 9 (numbered 3). Fig. 1 indicates plainly that the piston 73 in cylinder 3 is in such position that air admitted through the pipec (numbered 3) into the cylinder would serve to force the piston downward and commence rotation of the crank shaft in the desired direction. Such rotation would obviously cause rotation of the distributing sleeve 0 through the driving gears 6 P, in a clockwise direction, as Viewed in Fig. 2, and bring the next port 9 (numbered 1) in line with the. registering ports 72. 0Z to admit air through the air pipe 1 into cylinder 1 and thereby give an impulse to the piston therein .and thereby continue rotation of the crank shaft. Subsequently, the other ports (numbered 4 and 2) would be brought successively into registry with the registering ports if, d and admit air to the respective cylinders 4, 2, for the purpose of imparting power impulses thereto. With the engine operating in the manner described, the usual fuel charge. is admitted through the usual devices provided therefor (not illustrated) and operation continued under the power of such fuel, whereupon the hand lever 71. may

.be moved to its median position and the ports h in the valveh blanked, as heretofore described, thereby cutting off the air supply. When the engine is to be reversed, the hand lever it is moved to a position against the other abutment (l whereupon the ports h will be moved into registry with the other ports (Z in the fixed sleeve (1. This operation will find the ports h, d in registry with the port 9 (numbered 4) in the distributer sleeve 0, whereupon air will be admittcd to the cylinder 4 through the appropriate pipe 4 communicating with said port {1 (numbered 4:).- Referring again to Fig. 1, it will be seen that the piston in cylinder numbered 4 is in such position that air admitted thereto will serve to rotate the crank shaft in a direction counter to the direction in which it was rotated under the impulse given by the piston 70 in the other cylinder 3, that is to say, the crank shaft will be rotated in a reverse direction. R0-

h into registry with the ports d of one of L tation of the distributer sleeve 6 will now be ament crank shaft in the reverse direction named.

In reversing the engine, the air will not be admitted until after the fuel supply has been fully cut elf and immediately upon the reversal under the influence of the air in the manner described, the fuel will again i be admitted to the cylinders for the continuous operation of the engine in the normal manner.

It is to be understood that the several ports in the elements of thedistributer will preferably be of such dimensions and so arranged with relation to one another that dur ing the starting and reversing operations air will never be cut ofl from all of the cylinders at any one time. In other words, the ports will have a slight lap so that each succeeding port will open to admit air toits cylinder just before the preceding port has closed to cut off air from its cylinder.

A structural detail of importance resides in the formation of an annular shoulder A at the bottom of the casing A to receive a flanged bushing Z through which passes the stub shaft f for the driving of the distributing sleeve 0. This stub shaft f itself is flanged, as at 7, and this flange may rest on the flange of the bushing so that the annular shoulder A in fact supports the stub shaft f. Since the distributing sleeve 6 rests on the tongue f of the stub shaft 7", so as to effect a loose driving connection between the tongue and the groove 6, it may be said that the annular shoulder A of the casing A supports this distributing sleeve as well and that floating engagement between the distributing sleeve and its driving shaft which is desirable under the conditions ofuse to which the distributer is placed, is secured. J

By the construction described, it will be evident that the stopping, starting and reversing of'the engine may be efiected by compressed air through a very simple manipulation of the hand lever 72, and that the. danger of acci-" dent through careless manipulation is minimized and certainty of operation insured. Appropriate legends Stop, Start, Beverse may be placed on the cap of the sleeve 01 directly under the corresponding positions of the handle [b2 as convenient indications. Again, the positive mechanical connection between the distributing sleeve 6 and the crank shaft f insuresthe invariable operation and proper timing of thissleeve and the invariable admission of air to the several cylinders in proper sequenceand timev relarangement of the elements of the distributer and their form and" dimensions without departing from the spirit of the inventlon prorealized by means which are substantial equivalents to those recited in the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. An air distributer for multiple cylinder internal combustion engines, comprlsing a casing having chambers in communication With the respective cylinders, a rotary CllS- tributer sleeve in the casing having ports therein corresponding to the respective chambers, operative driving connections between the sleeve and the crank shaft, a tubular valve within the casing provided with ports corresponding in number to the first named ports, the ports in one of said elements being alined with one another and the ports in the other of said elements being staggered with relation to one another.

2. An air distributer for multiple cylinder internal combustion engines, comprising a casing having chambers in communication with the respective cylinders, a rotary dis-- tributer sleeve in the casing having ports therein corresponding to the respective chambers but staggered with relation to each, other, operative driving connections between the sleeve and the crank shaft, a tubular valve within the casing provided with ports corresponding in number and relative-disposition to the chambers, and a source of compressed air for the casing.

3. An air distributer for multiple cylinder internal combustion engines, comprising a casing having chambers in communication with the respective cylinders, a fixed sleeve within the casing having ports alined with the respective chambers, an oscillating tubularhand valve within the casing'provided with ports corresponding in number and relative disposition to the ports in said sleeve, and a source of compressed. air for the casing.

4. An air distributerfor multiple cylinder internal combustion engines, comprising a casing having chambers in communication with the respective cylinders, a fixed sleeve having ports alined with ithe respective chambers, a rotary distributer sleeve in the caslng, operative driving connections between the distributer sleeve and the crank shaft, an oscillating tubular hand valve within the casing provided with ports corresponding in number and relative disposition to the ports in said fixed sleeve, and a source of compressed air for the casing.

5. An air distributer for multiple cylinder internal combustion engines, comprising a vided the advantages described herein are casing having chambers incommunication Y with the respective cylinders, a rotary distributer sleeve in the casing, ports for each of the chambers displaced with respect to -oneanother, operative driving connections between thesleeve and the crank shaft, and agfixed sleeve Within thecasing having two sets of alined ports disposed, respectively,

opposite the said chambers, said sets of ports being displaced-With relation to each other an angular "distance equal to the displace- :ment of said ports in the distributer.

3 6 An-airdistributerlfor multiple cylinder internal combustion iengines,-' comprising", a

' casing having chambers in communication with the respective cylinders, a fixed sleeve injsaid casing having tWo sets of alined ports in alinement with therrespective chambe1"s, a tubular oscillating hand valve having a'single set of alined ports disposed opposite the ports in the sleeve, respectively, and a rotary distributing sleeve having a port for each chamber, the ports in the distributing sleeve being displaced with relation'to each other an angular distance equal to the displacement of the said two sets of ports in the fixed sleeve.

7. An air distribute'r for multiple cylinder internal combustion engines, comprising a vertically disposed tubular casing having" cored segmental chambers on its inner wall,

disposed one above another and correspond-.

ing in number to the number of cylinders, a cox er plate for the casing on which is formed a dependlng sleeve, a rotary distributersleeve mounted in the casing between said fixedsleeve and the Wall of the casing, a tubular hand valve carried Within the fixed sleeve, a cored chamber in the wall of the casing to receive compressed air, openings in the distributor sleeve to admit said compressed air from said chamber into the interior of the hand valve, a single set of alined CARL W. WEISS.

copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

' Washington, D. C. 

